Chapter 196

According to etiquette, Eun Gi, as the guest of honor of the state dynasty, should be the last to enter the Daming Palace together with the emperor.

However, having not seen Hsien Yao for nearly half a year, Eun Gi simply could not wait. After both sides of the Chongzheng Hall had finished their deliberations, and before it was time for the feast to begin, the Emperor invited him to the Chonghua Hall to take a short rest, and he even took the initiative to say, “I’m not tired, I want to see Xianyao earlier.”

The emperor of this grassland to the straightforward man quite good feeling, haha laughed, instructed Chen Rixin: “just as you have to go back to the north palace gate duty, will first lead the Enji to go to the Palace of Daming it.”

Chen Rixin smiled and answered.

So the palace people and the royal clansmen who arrived one after another saw a peculiar scene, Eun Gi, who was the guest of honor, was actually the first to arrive.

He did not take a seat, but waited in the corridor, looking around, occasionally greeted with the royal family who came forward, exchanging pleasantries, and then continued to stare at the direction of the harem leading to the Daming Palace.

When he saw Zhou Xianyao’s figure appear, he got up and quickly greeted her, hugged her tightly and flew around a few times in public.

On the side of the eldest princess and other people wide-eyed, a moment do not know how to face this kind of scene, face to face.

Only the seventh uncle stroked his beard, old and comforting: “Zhao Ren princess insisted on marrying in the north of the real, seems to be the right person ah.”

“Enji, you put me down, this is not the rules of the palace!” Zhou Xianyao was happy at first, but when he realized that the atmosphere around him was not right, he tapped him on the shoulder and tried to stop him.

Enji stopped, but still did not let her down, a pair of black eyes carefully measured her: “You are lighter, thinner.”

“It’s not because of that wonderful son of yours. Making it hard to sleep in the middle of the night.”

“Tonight I will take him back to the post house to stay, you rest for a few days.”

“Amitabha Buddha.” Only then did Zhou Xianyao jump off the ground, wrapping his arm around Enji and walking towards the inside of the Daming Palace, the first seat at the eastern head.

Everyone present was exchanging words over what had just happened, except for Chen Rixin, who had been standing in the corner of the crowd, watching everything with cold eyes.

Without realizing it, a nobleman walked up to him and said softly, “Vice Governor Chen, just now, Empress Zhang summoned the Crown Prince and Crown Princess into the Chengqian Palace to have a chat, I feel that this matter is quite fishy, and I would like to remind the Emperor and Lord Duan Fei to be more vigilant.”

Chen Rixin’s eyebrows jumped, staring at the pair of eyebrows that were somewhat similar to the Crown Princess’s, he gathered his solemnity and respectfully said, “Yes, thank you for reminding the Wen family’s mother.”

Rong Xiangzhi pursed her lips, “As a minister’s daughter and the nephew’s daughter-in-law of the Emperor, this is what I should have done.”

“The humble minister will explain your loyalty back to the Emperor.”

Rong Xiangzhi was satisfied with his upbringing and turned around with a smile.

Chen Rixin watched her enter the palace, a hint of alertness crossing his spring-like face and disappearing without a trace. And then, he walked in the direction of the harem.

After a short while, Zhou Xian Yang and Rong Xiang Xiang also arrived at the Daming Palace.

Princess Zhaoren looked at Xiangmian worriedly, not knowing what had just happened in Chengqian Palace.

Xiangmian wanted to smile at the princess, but he couldn’t smile when he thought of what was about to happen, and just shook his head at her to show that he was fine.

In the end, the Emperor and Empress appeared outside the palace gates of Daming Palace at the same time.

This was a scene that had appeared countless times in the past yearly festivals and feasts, only this time everyone sensed something different.

To be precise, it was Empress Zhang’s difference, she was still the most gorgeously dressed and crowned noblewoman in the whole venue, but the unimpressive demeanor on her face had disappeared, and was replaced by a gentle and watery demeanor.

When the Princess looked at her, she suddenly had an illusion, like Empress Yu had possessed Empress Zhang.

The Empress Dowager’s mourning period has passed, and for the first time, the sound of silk and bamboo resounded in the palace, which has long been devoid of singing, dancing and performing music.

The feast began in a joyful manner. After the Emperor and the clansmen and Enji had drunk three rounds of wine, Empress Zhang spoke.

“Your Majesty, this scene of a hall full of hands and feet, children and daughters, a good son-in-law and daughter-in-law, children and grandchildren in harmony and joy is truly the envy of the whole world. My Concubine toasts you, may you enjoy eternal life.” As Zhang spoke, she personally poured a cup of wine for the emperor.

The emperor took it with a smile, playing with the cup of wine, saying, “The empress has gained quite a bit from meditating these days, this is the kind of virtuous demeanor that a mother of state should have.”

Saying so, he finished his drink in one go.

Zhang’s mouth held a trace of imperceptible smile as she drank the wine in her own cup with satisfaction.

Soon, the emperor’s face changed, his hands pressed on his chest and patted it eagerly, as if he was having trouble breathing.

Shen Duzhi was the first to realize that something was wrong, and busily shouted, “Quickly announce the Imperial Doctor!”

“No need.” Zhang coldly voiced out, satisfied with the emperor’s struggling and agonizing appearance, delicately caressing her colorful phoenix flower nails, “What His Majesty just drank was a highly poisonous poison – Sheng Ling Perish. In less than an incense stick of effort, he will gulp his breath, he won’t be able to wait for the eunuch.”

The information thrown out in a single, unperturbed sentence caused everyone present to freeze for several breaths, with the eldest princess taking the lead in reacting, “Zhang, you dare to commit regicide and treason!”

After saying that, the eldest princess quickly stepped onto the steps and pounced on the emperor’s side, patting his back and calling out, “Shiping, Shiping! Shen Ruoyu, use the sedan chair and bring the Imperial Doctor here as fast as you can!”

Shen Duzhi immediately complied, and the Princess commanded Duan Fei, “Quickly escort this poisonous woman!”

“Poisonous woman?” Empress Zhang threw back her head and laughed, “Eldest Princess, you love your brother, but don’t be blind. In terms of viciousness, I can’t compare to your brother by a million percent.”

Saying that, she pointed at the man who had already crookedly fallen on the eldest princess, “When the East Sea sea pirates were raging, your good brother, in order to pull in the Zhang family and make my elder brother do his best to fight for him, made me a noble consort, and also promised me in good faith that as long as he gave birth to an imperial son he would let me be the imperial noble consort, implying that I would have a chance of replacing the empress.

In fact, what empress imperial concubine, I simply do not care, is he in the palace to me everywhere to make enemies, deliberately create me and the situation of incompatibility between the empress of Yu. Every month, the emperor and queen reunion days he often took the initiative to Chengqian Palace to accompany me, but the outside world is rumored to be me in order to compete for favor, do everything.

I was blind, I thought the emperor treat me differently, intoxicated, self-respect and pride. But I didn’t know that all of this is using me to set up Queen Yu’s drama!

My child is almost seven months old, lively and active in my womb, and I think he must be a sturdy prince. It was him! He threatened Empress Yu’s personal maid, Amber, and forced her to drug the ginseng soup that the Empress sent me …… Killing two birds with one stone, Empress Yu was deposed and secluded, and I could never have another child …… Cunning rabbits die, and dogs cook… …The Yu and Zhang families, were thus utilized by him until their deaths!”

Empress Zhang’s voice was becoming more and more incoherent with her emotions, but everyone present understood her words, and one by one, they were shocked beyond words.

From time to time, they looked at the Emperor and then at the Crown Prince.

His Highness the Crown Prince was still seated on his own seat, as if all this shocking change had nothing to do with him. It was just that Zhou Xianyao was sitting across from him and could see clearly under the case, where he was tightly clutching Rong Xiangmian’s hand.

“You guys say that such a poisonous husband who was so vicious that he counted his wife, cheated his favorite concubine, and killed his own children, I only rewarded him with a cup of poisoned wine, isn’t that too compassionate? Ah? Hahahahaha ……”

Zhang’s mournful laughter echoed in the quiet halls of Daming Palace, superimposing an eerie feeling. Her playful smile gradually became twisted and disheveled.

Revenge was easy to say, but in the end, she still had nothing left.

The feathered guards came forward, not knowing how to escort Zhang up, after all, she was the Empress, or a poor woman, those elites did not know where to start for a moment.

The emperor looked like he was about to swallow his breath, Duan Fei only had to ask: “Your Royal Highness, what do you think should be …… done.”

Before the words were finished, Duan Fei was so shocked that he stopped his mouth, and he saw the Emperor leisurely, straightening up from the arms of the eldest princess, saying, “Duan Fei, pull this poisonous woman out of the afternoon gate and car crack her!”

“Shiping? You’re okay?” The Eldest Princess had been close to despair just now, and at this moment, the joy of a false alarm, mixed with the anger of being deceived, as well as the complex emotions of being dissatisfied with what the Emperor had done, made her instantly not want to care about this younger brother anymore.

As if he had not heard, the Emperor stood up and flung his sleeve hem, and as he pulled up Empress Zhang’s hand, he twisted the fingers of her right hand with force, breaking her fingers in a raw manner.

“Zhang, you pass such a highly poisonous thing in the palace, do you really think that everyone honors you as the Empress and follows your orders? From the first day this thing appeared in the palace, someone in Chengqian Palace had reported it to me. What you just added to the wine is just some ordinary medicinal powder.”

Empress Zhang was shocked to realize that her ploy had failed, and the fire of vengeance that had just been extinguished was rekindled, and she frantically endured the severe pain, and with her left hand, she quickly drew out a dagger from her right hand’s sleeve, and stabbed it straight at the Emperor’s neck.

This time, Duan Fei was right beside the Empress, and with a quick eye, he snatched the dagger and pressed the Empress to the ground.

“Bitch!” Empress Zhang held her head high and died without giving in, scolding in a stern voice, “You’re so vicious, you’ll definitely get your retribution, you’ll definitely not die a good death!”

“Pull down and car-check!” The emperor ordered loudly again.

“Don’t move her!”

Duan Fei’s heart jumped as he got up and glanced at Zhou Xian Yang who was speaking, he really hoped that the Crown Prince would keep quiet. He was already sitting on the throne as the Crown Prince, as long as he stayed obedient, the succession would be sooner or later, and then Niang Yu would be able to regain her freedom. Why not endure more eventful days? Why did you stand up for Zhang?

Zhou Xian Yang stood up from his seat and looked around at the crowd that had long since been blindsided, “What the Empress said just now involves my mother, she can’t die, I have something to ask her.”

“Xian Yang, are you going to disobey me as well?” The Emperor said unhappily, “She didn’t know who instigated her to make up these many lies to sow discord between our father and son, don’t you fall for her scheme! How could I kill my own child, how could I wrong your mother?”

“That is …… the crown prince, you must not be confused ah, the emperor has always been benevolent …… even Qi Wang conspired against the king to kill the king, he is only secluded. You have to believe your father, how much he values you!” The Seventh Imperial Uncle was rare and serious, genuinely worried about him.

A trace of gratitude arose in Zhou Xian Yang as he smiled and nodded to the Seventh Imperial Uncle, adding, “Imperial Uncle’s words are not true. King Kai conspired against the Emperor but survived, how can that prove that the Emperor is merciful? Perhaps there is something else going on?”

“Xian Yang!” The Emperor let out an angry shout, signaling Duan Fei to stop him, Zhou Xian Yang instead looked straight at Duan Fei and Shen Ruoyu, “In this matter, Chief Duan and Capital Shen were both present, and were both in the know, right?”

With one sentence, he directly pulled the two of them down.

Duan Fei and Shen Duzhi looked at each other and only felt that the Crown Prince, like the Empress, was not like the person he usually was, and did not dare to act rashly. After all, he was the Crown Prince, and if he was offended at this time, it would be difficult to deal with the Imperial Court in the future.

Zhou Xian Yang continued as if no one else was there, ”When King Kai was arrested, he personally said that regicide was to avenge his mother’s death. Back then, in order to gain the support of my grandfather, Elder Elder Master Yu, the Emperor was determined to take my mother as his main wife and make her the Empress. So he tampered with the diet of his original royal consort, also known as the Ming｜Hui Royal Consort, causing her to ‘fall ill and die’ in half a year. His Majesty did not kill King Kai, but only because his conscience was troubled.”

Once these words came out, the crowd that was already quiet just now exchanged words again.

Seeing that he was being talked about, especially being looked at with such disdain by the Lord of the Northern True Kingdom and his own precious daughter, the Emperor was instantly irritated, “Xian Yang, have you gone crazy? How dare you slander me with such horrible rumors! What are your intentions? You don’t want the throne anymore, do you? Duan Fei! What are you waiting for? Quickly take down this disobedient and unfilial thing for me!”

Duan Fei was in the middle of a dilemma, and sincerely said, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, you admit your fault to His Majesty. ……”

“Why should I admit my fault? I’d rather ask the Emperor when he’s going to admit his mistake!”

Zhou Xian Yang walked up the steps step by step to the Emperor’s case and said loudly, “You have had three wives, one who lost her life to you, one who was wronged by you for more than ten years, and one who was killed by you with a child in her womb. In your eyes these three women are just stepping stones, can be discarded after use? And the Yu family, my uncle, the country’s most outstanding ambassador, inexplicably by you put on the name of collaborating with the enemy and selling the country, exiled to the borderlands died in an unknown …… You dare to say that year and the northwestern ministries and talks, the loss of those who are in the end, because of what?”

“Adverse son! What do you want?!” Before the head involved are personal grudges, the emperor can still be tolerated, at this moment to the situation in the northwest at the time, he will be unable to restrain his anger, stormy.

Back then, he signaled Yu Chang to make more concessions during the Ho Talks, and at the same time, Duke Chang took advantage of the opponents to be blinded, and buried many ambushes on the front line, winning a series of great victories. Afterwards, he then deducted the hat of Yu Chang Litong sellout, claiming that he had no knowledge of it, and tore up all the peace agreements previously signed. Anyway, after Yu was abolished, disposing of the Yu family has been his next step to do.

Just who exactly told him these old stories?

It didn’t matter, it didn’t matter!

The emperor said in a loud voice, ”The fourth son of the Emperor, Zhou Xian Yang, has misheard the words of others, is unable to distinguish between right and wrong, and has defied the Emperor! He is hereby deposed as Crown Prince! Xian Hui, from today onwards, you are the Crown Prince!”

King Yun’s head grew big at the bottom.

Sun Mingyue looked at the side of the desk behind the table, Xianghui alone tightly clutched the handkerchief, her nose was sore, tears were about to fall, hurried over to hold Xianghui’s shoulders.

What she feared the most, what she hated the most, was the situation in front of her. Imperial power, tearing their good brotherhood, their good bosom friendship, into tatters.

The same was true for King Yun, who for the first time in his life uttered words of disobedience to his father, “Father, don’t harm me!”

At such a tense moment, Zhou Xian Yang did not expect to be amused by his fifth brother’s words. He looked at his fifth brother whose features were wrinkled into a ball, because he had drunk too much wine, that face of his was now even pinker than a girl’s.

He didn’t hide it anymore and said bluntly, ”Your Majesty, with your mind and strategy, you should be able to think that today, when I dared to come out and say these words, I must have come prepared. And this sentence of yours just now may very well have cut off Xianhui’s life in this way.

In the past twenty years, you have never thought of making Xian Hui the Crown Prince, but now at this juncture, you are thinking of making him the Crown Prince. As a father, have you never thought about your own child? Could it be that all of us are just tools for you to give birth to?!”

It was only then that everyone present reacted to the fact that Zhou Xian Yang was so abnormal today, not because he had heard Empress Zhang’s revelation of Yu’s wrongdoing, but because he had planned something big for today.

Yun Wang felt like he was numb and cried, “Fourth brother, don’t tease me! I’ve never wanted to be a crown prince!”

“Bastard! What? Do you want to plot against the throne?” The Emperor had never imagined that Zhou Xian Yang, who was already the Crown Prince, would not wait peacefully to succeed the throne. After all, he had been at peace for such a long time, could it be that his peace and caution in the past was all deception?

All of a sudden, he felt his heart stifled, and sat down behind the desk, pointing at Zhou Xian Yang and said angrily: “I have not yet prepared the throne edict, and you have been deposed as the crown prince, and the royal relatives are all witnesses! Even if you have your way, it’s not a good name! Duan Fei! What are you waiting for? What are you waiting for? You don’t want to be the head of the forbidden army anymore, do you?”

Yang Zhou waved his hand at Duan Fei, crouched down, looked at the Emperor across the table, and said, “I don’t want to be the Emperor, so why do I need an edict of succession? Besides, could it be that when you succeeded to the throne back then, did you ever have any succession edicts?”